Women’s IPL – A Sports Game Changer And A New Era In Cricket

Sports By Archana Bhakta | 4 min read

Women's IPL

What has been anticipated for so long is now true?

The ethereal is finally real and here!

What seemed far away is now only a few days away!

Yes, the all-women’s IPL (Indian Premier League) is now in motion from March 2023. And the joy that has been displayed as a hint for the past few months will soon be televised.

When the men’s IPL started, it was an opportunity for young and talented players. It was also a celebration, one that was watched by millions of fans across different countries.

The approval of a women’s IPL will be a game-changer in women’s cricket. As much as we enjoy watching the women in blue test boundaries and sizes, it is even more satisfying to see them succeed.

And why not?

Cricket, just like any other sport, is dominated by men. The Women’s Indian Premier League allows domestic and overseas players to showcase and upskill their talent and take the lead in the game. Nonetheless, WPL is said to revolutionise sports. 

The WPL, a domestic T20 league in India, will begin early in the following month. The WPL is the most recent in a growing number of club-based or franchise-owned women’s leagues that are managed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Everything You Need to Know About Women’s IPL

Image Source – Instagram

Owned and operated by the BCCI, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the women’s IPL is a franchise T20 league that will see its first season in March 2023 in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, with five franchise teams taking part in the tournament.

The WPL is scheduled for a condensed 21-day period from March 4 to 24.

Many elite players will be up hunching, from Smriti Mandhana to Harmanpreet Kaur; Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner.

How Many Teams Are Playing in Women’s Premier League In India?

At present, there are only five teams: the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, UP Warriorz, and Mumbai Indians. 

However, it’s believed that the BCCI has retained the option to add two teams for the fourth and fifth seasons of the Women’s IPL, which are scheduled to take place in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

It is an exciting opportunity to elevate women’s cricket and an experience. It’s a catalyst, and what could be seen as encouraging to thrive and drive the game for the better.

With so many speculations and notions going around about women’s IPL for months, it is finally happening.

Women’s IPL Auction

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023’s first auction took place at Mumbai’s Jio World Centre.

Before the tournament, the five franchises—Mumbai Indians (MI), Gujarat Giants (GG), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Giants (GG), and UP Warriorz (UPW)—put their best auction to clutch their favorite players.

448 cricket players in total were put up for auction, 269 of whom were Indian and 179 from abroad (19 of those players were from the Associate Nations).

Through a closed bidding process, investors acquired the initial franchise rights, raising a total of 4,669 crores for the Women’s IPL.

Adani Group paid 1,289 crore to acquire the franchise for Gujarat Titans.

The Mumbai franchise was purchased by Indiawin Sports Pvt. Ltd., a part of Reliance Industries, for 912.99 crore.
GMR-JSW won the Delhi franchise for 810 crore. For 757 crore, Capri Global Holdings won the Lucknow, and for 901 crore, Royal Challengers Sports won the Women’s IPL.

Who Owns The Franchise? 

Image Source – Instagram

Only three of IPL’s franchise out of seven existing teams took up the women’s franchise. Indian Sports, a division of Reliance Industries, is the owner of the Mumbai Indians, which also won the bid for one of the women’s IPL teams.

Royal Challenges Bangalore is owned by Diageo, a major drinks giant, and is also one of the Bengaluru-based teams on the WIPL.

JSW GMR Cricket, Delhi’s IPL franchise, purchased the Delhi Capitals’ WPL team.

The remaining teams were purchased by the newcomers. Adaniti Sortsline acquired the Ahmedabad-based Gujarat Titans and Capri-Global acquired Luchnow Warriorz.

Top Players In Women’s IPL

Image Source – Instagram

In the historic auction, 448 players from all over the world were sold. Let’s take a look at the Women’s IPL’s most expensive players.

The dazzling opener of the Indian Cricket Team – Smriti Manhana became the most expensive player in Womens IPL. Almost all franchise tried to rope he,r but she was purchased for a whopping INR 3.4 Cr by Royal Challengers Bangalore after outbidding everyone else.

 On the elite list of the Women’s IPL’s most expensive players, Ashleigh Gardener takes the number two spot. The Delhi Capitals purchased the elegant all-around player for a sum of money of INR 3.2 Cr.

Natalie Sciver, an all-around fast bowler from England, is currently the third-most expensive player in the Women’s IPL.The English pioneer will play for Mumbai Indians in the inaugural WPL for a respectable INR 3.2 Cr.

Image Source – Instagram

Deepti Sharma, a crucial component of the Indian Women’s team, has earned a salary of INR 2.6 Cr from UP Warriorz, making her the most expensive player in the Women’s IPL.

Jemimah Rodrigues, a rising star for the Indian women’s team, was traded to the Delhi Capitals for a whopping INR 2.2 Cr, making her the 5th most expensive player in the Women’s IPL.

These are top 5 expensive players in the Women’s IPL and we hope to see dazzling performances from them.

The Women’s IPL T20 League Is A Game-Changer

Image Source – Instagram

The Women’s IPL will align with the success and replication that the Men’s IPL received. Just like the Men’s IPL was a hit and continues to gather massive fan momentum, we can expect the same from Women’s IPL. There is no denying that the Women’s Indian Premier League, or WPL, has come forward with leaps and bounds, and it deserves the much-needed hype.

The Indian Premier League is the infamous T20 franchise league in India that was founded in 2007 by the BCCI. The IPL is the most-attended cricket event in the world. With the Women’s IPL, it will enhance the sport and give a vivid opportunity to women.

With this league, the competition may even raise the level of play in women’s cricket. Before the men’s IPL, a world-class product that is already established, women’s players will take center stage in March 2023. In stark contrast to men’s cricket, which has benefited from an abundance of game time, this will make the women’s IPL T20 more competitive.

The women’s IPL, which is soon to kick off, will be watched by fans across the nation. It is an encouraging step towards strengthening cricket.

So, for all cricket fans, mark the calendar for March 4, 2023, and watch out for your favorite team and player.

For more updates on Women’s IPL, you can check – Instagram

If you liked reading this story, you can also read about India At The Commonwealth Games 2022: List Of Athletes And Teams Qualified For The Birmingham Cut!

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